Naden search prompts tourist warning

A digitally-enhanced image of Malcolm Naden showing him with curly hair and a beard.

AAP Image/NSW Police

Gloucester Mayor Geoff Slack is urging holiday-makers to take care, as the search for fugitive Malcolm Naden shifts to dense terrain in the Barrington Tops, north of Newcastle.

38-year-old Naden has been on the run for six years and is wanted over the alleged murder of a woman, and the disappearance of another in Dubbo.

He is also accused of shooting a police officer near his make-shift campsite near Nowendoc, as the search closed in two weeks ago.

The command post has now moved to Gloucester and Councillor Slack says people need to be cautious.

"We as usual are expecting quite a lot of people to come up over the holiday period to the beautiful Barrington Tops and the Gloucester Tops," he said.

"We just ask people to be careful, keep an eye out, try not to come up on your own.

"A little group is probably better and if you do see something suspicious please report it immediately to the police."

Councillor Slack says Naden's already been blamed for several local robberies.

"The reports have been coming probably for a couple of years now that somebody and they suspect that it is him has been helping himself to some isolated properties to food, sleeping bags and that sort of thing.

"Yes, he's been in the area for three or four years now and hopefully they'll find him."